Flat Rock, NC Dec 21, 2016

Most of the "getting ready for Christmas" is done, so we thought we would continue our weekly road trip outings.  An article appeared in the paper about Flat Rock, NC, and it looked like a good place to visit.  The noted poet, Carl Sandburg, moved there from the Midwest in the late 1940's when he was in his 60's.  He bought a 200+ acre farm, and lived in a a beautiful home built in 1830 on the hill top, and his wife started a goat farm.  Descendants of the original goats are still cared for there.  The town also boasts a historic church, St John in the Wilderness.  The area is also noted for its apple orchards, when in season.  It was about a two hour leisure ride through pretty countryside, and worth another visit when apples are ready for picking next year.



 A distant view of the Sandburg grounds and house from the park entrance.

According to the news article, tours of the home and farm are available, but we didn't see any information about them.  We didn't intend to take a tour today, so that was just as well.

 There was no charge to walk the grounds

It's easy to see how a poet could be inspired in an idyllic setting such as this.

Not far from the Sandburg home is St John in the Wilderness.  First built in 1834 as a private chapel for the Baring family, the church was deeded to the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina in 1836.  Flat Rock, nicknamed the Little Charleston of the Mountains, grew as the low country folk came to the mountains to escape the heat and malaria found on the coast, and soon became "the" summer meeting place for prominent families from South Carolina, Georgia and New Orleans.  

 



Many famous persons are laid to rest here including 3 signers of the Declaration of Independence and the general who lead the Bataan death march in World War II.

 Red velvet covers seat cushions and is used as floor runners.  The box pews bear engraved plaques claiming seats for the prominent families  who were the early parishioners. 

Beautiful chimes and wood beamed ceilings adorn the old church.  Although a historic site open to the public, the church still has an active congregation of about 400 members.

Next, a look-see in the Wrinkled Egg Emporium...

a photo with Santa...

and

and a bite of lunch at the Village Bar and Café (where we learned of hangover cures around the world)  made for the end of a delightful visit.   By the way, the Polish cure is to have "a beeg glass of peek-el juice".